Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Gujarat acts to curb illegal mining after court's intervention.

2011-01-21 22:50:00
Gandhinagar, Jan 21 (IANS) Upbraided by the Gujarat High Court for its inaction in curbing illegal mining, the state government Friday told the court of the series of measures it has initiated to curb the malaise.
Mines and Minerals Secretary M. Sahu appeared in person before the bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi as per the court's earlier directive to announce the measures.

The government has amended provisions of Gujarat Mineral (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2005 and provision of suspension of royalty pass/ delivery challans was introduced in cases of violation or breach of any lease deed conditions of dues pending, the bench was told.

It was further submitted that the state government will hold police officers, revenue officers and geology and mining officers of the area concerned accountable and liable for negligence towards their official duty so far as detection of illegal mining activities in the state is concerned.

The government has recently passed a resolution and a state/district level task force has been constituted to check illegal mining.

'All the pending lease applications will be disposed off and new leases will be granted with all transparency,' the bench was told.

The affidavit further stated that the new market mineral value rates has also been fixed for illegal excavation/storage of various minerals and for the first time, a 24x7 control room has been set up to receive complaints about illegal mining. An incentive scheme for informers has also come up in which a cash award up to Rs.1 lakh will be given.

The government has planned to co-ordinate with railways, ports, and customs departments for tracking mineral movements.

The analysis of statistics submitted by the state government in the affidavit seems to indicate that the government swung into action only after 2009 with little or no action before it.

As compared to 64 FIRs filed during 2005-09, the state registered 290 FIRs in last two years. Likewise, from 2005-March 2009, no leases were cancelled or suspended for breach of conditions. But in 2009-December 2010, 23 leases were cancelled and 50 leases were suspended for the same reason.

After taking the submissions on record, the court adjourned the matter on February 11.

Right to Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethwa had initially filed the public interest litigation against illegal mining in Gir forest region in Junagadh, which is considered to be last abode of Asiatic lions in the world. Jethwa was shot dead last year near the high court.
Source: http://www.sify.com/finance/gujarat-acts-to-curb-illegal-mining-after-court-s-intervention-news-default-lbvwOecjhhj.html

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"If ever you feel like an animal among men, be a LION" -Criss Jami, American Musician and Poet. "Lion: The fiercest and most magnanimous of the four footed beasts" - Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (1755)

Asiatic Lion Protection Society

Asiatic Lion Protection Society (ALPS) founded in year 2006, is an NGO working mainly for conservation of Asiatic Lion in Gir forest and in Indian Zoos. Main objectives: To compile max. information about Asiatic Lion plus Gir forest and spread it through out the globe by website, blogs, Wikipedia, yahoo groups etc To help protection & conservation of Asiatic Lion & Gir forest by taking up projects like - Building parapets on open wells. - To contact and request nationalize banks of Gir area to put a condition to built parapet on open wells while sanctioning loan to farmers - At the time of festivals, organize camps near temples like Kankai, Banej & Tulsi Shyam to educate tourist to protect wildlife. - To distribute information and awareness leaflets at check-post to visitors using jungle roads. - Make representation & persuade Govt. to make Gir 'A Plastic Free Zone. Similarly contact local civil bodies to make their areas A Plastic free zone. To inform authorities about illegal activities inside the jungle like wood-cutting, removal of forest produce, poaching, illegal grazing etc. To inform authorities about injured wild animals. Also educate locals of Gir forests as well as school/college students to conserve Gir forest, it's wildlife and to represent to Govt. in favor of trans-location of Asiatic Lion to some other good place in Gujarat. P S: We welcome your comments & posts and expect that our conversation will follow the general rules of respectful civil discourse. You’re fully responsible for everything that you submit here in your comments & posts.

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Gir forest...Gir lies has a topography made up of succession of rugged ridges, isolated hills, plateaus and valleys. Besides, being the last abode of Asiatic lions, Gir forms a unique habitat for ratel, rusty spotted cat, pangolin, ruddy mongoose, civets, paradise flycatcher etc.The overwhelming presence of the omnipotent big cat diverts the attention of the common man from the remarkable bird population that the sanctuary has. However, the birds of Gir sanctuary did attract the great ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali who believed that, had the Asiatic lions not been there, the area would have been one of the most fascinating bird sanctuaries of the country.People mostly link Gir with "Maldharis" who have survived through the ages by having symbiotic relationship with the lion. They are religious pastoral communities living in Gir. Their settlements are called "nesses".At present, Gir forests of Gujarat (India) is the only natural place where this race of lions i.e. Asiatic lion is found.